We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Dobson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John below.

John, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My life has been seeking fun, rewarding activities that are challenging and contribute to the ‘village”. Finding such things means really never “working”. Often it’s a tradeoff. Giving up some financial rewards for a healthy outdoor livelihood.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was a transfer sophomore college student from Delaware to the University of Miami. I love fishing and would hustle enough paying students from the U to charter a boat every weekend from Key Biscayne. I got to go free and got to be the mate as well. Learned and got enough experience to be able to stay in Miami during the summer and “work” on charter fishing boats. Had the neatest bachelor pad living on a big sport fishing boat at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club. Paid no rent. Had AC and all the amenities of a tiny apartment. And got to go fishing almost every day. My job as mate was to make the baits, keep the lines working and watch for strikes. I would then grab the pole, tease and try to hook the fish. Then give the rod to the paying customer. They did the hard work winding in the fish, Then my job again was to land the fish, With a gaff or by grabbing them by the bill if it was a sailfish. So I am the skilled crew responsible for getting the fish to bite and to get them on board, What a great “job”. A job because I was actually getting paid to have all this fun. When fall came and I went back to the U I was living on campus. I had taken the courses I wanted to for 2 years. All science and math, Now they tell me I need all these humanities and art classes to graduate. Meanwhile captains keep calling me to come work for various half and full day charters. I remember one offer to work the afternoon but I had an organic chemistry lab. That’s when I made the decision to be a fisherman. Never looked back.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Ever since deciding to have farm animals it has been a struggle to keep the livestock safe. Caging and fencing would help but I want all my critters to be free range, After losing all my yard birds to local predators like coyote, fox, raccoons and hawks I found the answer in my pair of great Pyrenees dogs. Not only did they stop the predation but they became the stars of the farm-stay experience. With their protection all my ducks. geese, chickens and guineas began to multiply. They all were successful at producing baby chicks each spring and summer. After 11 years I had a large flock. But when my 2 dogs passed at 11 years old the predation started again. I got 2 puppies but by the time they grew into their job description most of my chickens and ducks and some guineas were gone. It was raccoons that did the most damage. Now I understand why the locals go “coon hunting”, Then my fish disappeared. Puzzled by the empty ponds after years of raising catfish and trout and blue gills all my ponds were empty. Game cameras caught the culprit. A river otter set up shop and wiped me out. In the past it was my dogs patrolling at night that kept otters out of the ponds. But my dogs being absent the otter had a field day. Trapping him was not successful. So I set up at night with a thermal scope and a 17hmr, One shot at 11:20 one cold night ended his predation. Then the cameras showed a raccoon killing 2 of my new duck chicks, He was trapped and dispatched. I was able to save 2 out of 6 new baby ducks. Now they are thriving along with the 2 survivors from the original flock.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

For 35 years I could hardly sleep at night thinking about going fishing in the morning. I loved my “job”. I went either fishing or diving or pulling traps every day. What I caught I then sold at retail prices to the people of Miami. Docked right down town where crowds of people lined up to buy the freshest fish right from the boat. I weighed and custom cleaned each fish to order and was paid in cash. After 35 years the “job” started to feel like a real job. Burned out from fishing. So I waited a couple years for my son to finish college before I sold everything and bought Emerald Gate Farm. Brought all my fishing gear and knowledge and started over. First it was a B&B but that got old after 1 season. So I went to straight nightly rentals. Once I was able to build a little Caretakers Cabin by the barn I was able to move here permanently and still rent the main farmhouse. So by living on the property I i was able to create a subsistence farm to feed myself. And it became a living working farm for the renters to experience. I likened it to when I ran charter fishing boats. Only here I have a “charter farm” for folks to rent for a few days or more. With me as the “Captain” I help them enjoy the farm and the mountains and even fishing in my 3 ponds. I must be doing something right because my calendar stays pretty full. I get great reviews. Polly and Clyde and I truly enjoy engaging with the folks who decide to visit the farm. Especially the kids who get to see where food comes from. They pick fruit, dig potatoes search for eggs, forage and fish for their supper. I love to get folks outside and away from their phones and devices.

Contact Info:

• Website: emeraldgatefarm.com
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPxh7sbwub4
• Other: https://evolvevacationrental.com/ https://goo.gl/photos/kaeua6xmx31MteDa6

Image Credits
John Dobson